The shastrokta Ashtavinayak darshan order starts at Morgaon and ends at Ranjangaon: Morgaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, Ranjangaon. Kept in this sequence, the yatra from Pune takes three days and about 714 km, because the route crosses the Sahyadri ghats twice. Visiting the same eight temples in the order of their location takes two days and about 687 km.
Which one is right for your family depends on how much the sequence matters to you. Many yatris believe the yatra is complete only when it is done in order. Others would rather spend less time in the car. Both visit all eight forms of Lord Ganesha.
The shastrokta sequence, temple 1 to 8
| No. | Temple | Place | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayureshwar | Morgaon | Pune |
| 2 | Siddhivinayak | Siddhatek | Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar) |
| 3 | Ballaleshwar | Pali | Raigad |
| 4 | Varadvinayak | Mahad | Raigad |
| 5 | Chintamani | Theur | Pune |
| 6 | Girijatmaj | Lenyadri | Pune |
| 7 | Vighnahar | Ozar | Pune |
| 8 | Mahaganpati | Ranjangaon | Pune |
Morgaon is both the starting and the closing point of the traditional circuit. Strict tradition says the yatra is closed by going back to Morgaon after Ranjangaon. If you want that closing darshan, it is an extra drive at the end.
One note on Mahad. The Varadvinayak temple is in Mahad village, in Khalapur taluka near Khopoli and close to the Mumbai–Pune Expressway. It is a different place from Mahad town, which lies further south. Make sure anyone driving you knows this.
Why the sequence adds a day
Look at where the temples are. Pali and Mahad, numbers 3 and 4, are down the Sahyadri in Raigad district. The other six are on the Pune side of the ghats.
Going 1 to 8 in order means crossing the ghats from the Pune side down to Raigad for Pali and Mahad, then climbing back up for Theur. That is two crossings where a route by location needs one, and it costs close to a whole extra day on the road.
Route map: the shastrokta yatra from Pune in 3 days
This is the day-by-day route our 3-day Shastrokta Ashtavinayak yatra follows, with road distances.
| Day | Route | Distance | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Pune → Morgaon (1) → Siddhatek (2) | 170 km | Near Daund or Siddhatek |
| Day 2 | Siddhatek → Pali (3) → Mahad (4) → Theur (5) | 319 km | Near Theur, east of Pune |
| Day 3 | Theur → Lenyadri (6) → Ozar (7) → Ranjangaon (8) → Pune | 225 km | Home |
The legs in more detail:
- Day 1: Pune to Morgaon 68 km, Morgaon to Siddhatek 82 km, then about 20 km to Daund for lunch. The afternoon is free to rest.
- Day 2: Siddhatek to Pali 165 km, over the Sahyadri. Pali to Mahad 37 km. Lunch at Khopoli, then 110 km back across the ghats to Theur. This is the hard day, with both ghat crossings.
- Day 3: Theur to Lenyadri 95 km, Lenyadri to Ozar 15 km, lunch at Narayangaon, Ranjangaon, and about 50 km home to Pune.
The 2-day route by location
Our 2-day Ashtavinayak darshan package from Pune groups the temples by where they are, so the car crosses the ghats only once.
| Day | Route | Distance | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Pune → Morgaon → Siddhatek → Theur → Ranjangaon → Ozar | 340 km | Ozar |
| Day 2 | Ozar → Lenyadri → Pali → Mahad → Pune | 347 km | Home |
Day 2 is the longer one. It includes the Lenyadri steps and the longest drive of the trip, about four and a half hours over the ghats to Pali including a lunch stop. You are back in Pune at about 9:15 PM.
How many days do you need?
- Three days if you want the shastrokta order. The extra day is planned largely with older travellers in mind: Days 1 and 3 are kept light, and Day 1 finishes by mid-afternoon.
- Two days if the order matters less than time in the car. It is a full two days, with a long second day.
- One day is possible, but we advise against it. The full circuit is about 687 km, which means 17 to 18 hours in the car and barely any time at the temples.
Steps and walking at each temple
Six of the eight temples have no steps or only a few. Two need more effort.
- Lenyadri (6th): the demanding one. Roughly 300 steep stone steps, with published counts ranging from 283 to 338, and no lift. Keep about 90 minutes for the climb, darshan and the way down. Anyone with knee trouble, a heart condition or breathing difficulty can wait at the base while the rest of the group climbs.
- Siddhatek (2nd): about 25 stone steps. The full hill pradakshina is 1.3 km and optional, and a bullock cart is usually available.
- Mahad (4th): step-free and suitable for wheelchairs, the easiest of the eight.
- Ranjangaon (8th): step-free entry and a wide compound.
Timings to plan around
Most of the eight open at 5:00 AM and close between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM. Lenyadri is the exception: it opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 6:00 PM, the earliest closing of the eight. For the climb, starting before 8 AM is cooler and less crowded.
When to go
October to February is the most comfortable season for this circuit. Ganesh Chaturthi week, in Bhadrapad (August to September), brings the biggest crowds of the year at all eight temples. It is a festive time, and the lines grow several times longer than normal. In the monsoon, flooding on the Bhima river can affect the road into Siddhatek.
Stays along the way
We run the car and driver, and you book your own stays. On the 2-day route most yatris stay at the temple trust bhaktiniwas in Ozar, booked with the trust, and there are hotels in Narayangaon, about 15 km away. On the 3-day route the nights are near Daund or Siddhatek, and near Theur. Darshan passes, poojas and meals are also yours to arrange.
If you would like the order kept, see the Shastrokta Ashtavinayak yatra from Pune. If two days suits you better, see the 2-day Ashtavinayak darshan package.